Event #61: $500 No-Limit Holdem Freezeout Day 1 | 2025 World Series of Poker

06-23-2025 17:50 UTC-7

Lee Finds Needed Double

Erick Torres

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Ricky Lee put in his final 5,000 even from early position as his tournament life was waning. Lee got action from Taro Miura, who isolated from the small blind after it was folded to him with a raise to 13,000, and shedded the big blind in the process.

Ricky Lee: A♠8♥ All in
Taro Miura: Q♣6♣

Lee stayed ahead after the 7♠J♥5♠ flop, but the 4♦ turn gave Miura an open-ended straight draw. The 6♥ river, however, gave Lee the eight-high straight to double.

Player	Chips	Progress
Taro Miura	67,000
Ricky Lee	17,500

Tags: Ricky Lee Taro Miura

Level: 13

Blinds: 1,500/3,000

Ante: 3,000

06-23-2025 17:31 UTC-7

Lucky Lady for Warner

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Erick Torres

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Don Warner and Hemanth Kumar put all the chips in preflop with Kumar at risk for his tournament life.

Hemanth Kumar: A♠J♣ All in
Don Warner: K♠J♠

Kumar had Warner dominated with a better jack, and the flop kept him in the lead when it fanned out 10♥7♠A♣. Warner improved to four outs for the straight and began calling "Queen" as the turn came, the 3♣. Warner once again declared "Queen" before the river brought exactly that as it peeled off the Q♦ to give Warner the straight and send Kumar out.

Player	Chips	Progress
Don Warner	123,000 123,000	123,000
Hemanth Kumar	Busted

Tags: Don Warner Hemanth Kumar

06-23-2025 17:30 UTC-7

Flop Bet Ends Hand

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Erick Torres

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Stephen Hubbard began the hand with a raise to 5,000 from under the gun. Sho Shirasaka responded with a re-raise to 20,000 and was called by Hubbard to take the two to a flop.

Hubbard checked the J♣8♣3♠ flop, which led to a jam from Shirasaka. Hubbard did not take long to fold to give Shirasaka the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Lance Ha	132,000
Wesley Cameron	124,000
Sho Shirasaka	112,000
Stephen Hubbard	92,000
Benjamin Rose	66,000
Bart Lybaert	46,000
Jeremy Wien	31,000

Tags: Sho Shirasaka Stephen Hubbard

06-23-2025 17:28 UTC-7

Rockets Get Sidky a Nice Pay Day

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Myles Phago

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

John Hassett raised to 5,000 from middle position only for Sammy Sidky in late position to three-bet to 15,000. Bassel Eissa called from the button as did Hassett.

The flop came 6♣3♠8♥ and Hassett checked. Sidky open jammed all-in, and he had both players covered. Eissa went into the tank and eventually called.

Bassel Eissa: J♠J♦ All in
Sammy Sidky: A♠A♣

No life-saving Jack on the turn7♣ nor river8♦, and Eissa was sent packing by Sidky, who has jumped up to over 200,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sammy Sidky	207,000 207,000	207,000
John Hassett	123,000 123,000	123,000
Bassel Eissa	Busted

Tags: Bassel Eissa John Hassett Sammy Sidky

06-23-2025 17:19 UTC-7

Hara Knocks Out Marder

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Erick Torres

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Michael Marder shipped his last 21,500 from late position and was called in the next seat over by Ryo Hara to put Marder at risk.

Michael Marder: 3♣3♥ All in
Ryo Hara: A♣10♦

Marder held the slight lead, but the 8♣9♥7♥ flop gave Hara plenty of outs. The 6♠ gave Hara a straight, and the J♦ river upgraded Hara to a higher straight to eliminate Marder.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ryo Hara	60,000
Michael Marder	Busted

Tags: Michael Marder Ryo Hara

06-23-2025 17:18 UTC-7

Jeff Kennedy

144,000

Table 575Seat 5

06-23-2025 17:15 UTC-7

Rick Whitesell

55,000 15,000

Table 475

06-23-2025 17:10 UTC-7

Dutch Boyd

Busted

06-23-2025 17:08 UTC-7

Registration Closed

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Erick Torres

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Registration is now closed for the $500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout event. A total of 5,082 entries took their shot, with 1,965 players currently remaining in contention. Stay tuned here at PokerNews for the official prize pool and payouts.